Vaporization is the process where a liquid turns into a gas. This can happen in two ways: evaporation and boiling. When a liquid is heated, its molecules gain energy and move faster, eventually breaking free from the liquid's surface. This is what happens when you see steam rising from a hot pot of water, where the water is changing into water vapor. In everyday life, vaporization is important for various activities, like cooking and weather patterns. For example, when the sun heats up puddles after rain, the water evaporates, contributing to the water cycle. Understanding vaporization helps us grasp how different substances behave under heat.